University of Virginia Library

TRANSLATIONS

Sanazar's Hexastick.

[In Adriatick waves when Neptune saw]

In Adriatick waves when Neptune saw,
The City stand, and give the Seas a Law,
Now i'th Tarpeian tow'rs Jove rival me,
And Mars his Walls impregnable, said he;
Let Seas to Tyber yield, view both their ods,
You'l grant that built by Men, but this by Gods.

[In Virgilium. Pentadii] In English.

A Swain, Hind, Knight; I fed, till'd, did command
Goats, Fields, my Foes; with leaves, a spade, my hand.

[De Scævola] Englished.

The hand by which no King but Serjeant dies,
Mutius in fire doth freely Sacrifice;
The Prince admires the Hero, quits his pains,
And Victor from the seige peace entertains;
Romes more oblig'd to Flames, than Arms or pow'r,
When one burnt hand shall the whole war devour.

Of Cato.

The World orecome, victorious Cæsar, he
That conquer'd all; great Cato, could not thee.

Another.

[One stabbe could not fierce Cato's Life unty]

One stabbe could not fierce Cato's Life unty;
Onely his hand of all that wound did dy;
Deeper his Fingers tear to make a way
Open, through which his mighty Soul might stray.
Fortune made this delay to let us know,
That Cato's hand more then his Sword could do.

Another.

[The hand of sacred Cato bad to tear]

The hand of sacred Cato bad to tear
His breast, did start, and the made wound forbear,
Then to the gash he said with angry brow,
And is there ought great Cato cannot do?

Another.

[What doubt'st thou hand? sad Cato 'tis to kill]

What doubt'st thou hand? sad Cato 'tis to kill;
But he'l be free, sure hand thou doubt'st not still;
Cato alive 'tis just all men be free,
Nor conquers he himself now if he die.

[Pentadii] Englished.

It is not, y' are deceav'd, it is not blisse
What you conceave a happy living is;
To have your hands with Rubies bright to glow,
Then on your Tortoise-bed your body throw,
And sink your self in Down, to drink in gold,
And have your looser self in purple roll'd;
With Royal fare to make the Tables groan,
Or else with what from Lybick fields is mown,
Nor in one vault hoard all your Magazine,
But at no Cowards fate t'have frighted bin,
Nor with the peoples breath to be swol'n great,
Nor at a drawn Stiletto basely sweat.
He that dares this, nothing to him's unfit,
But proud o' th'top of Fortunes wheel may sit.

To Marcus T. Cicero.

In an English Pentastick.

Tully to thee Rome's eloquent Sole Heir,
The best of all that are, shall be, and were:
I the worst Poet send my best thanks and pray'r,
Ev'n by how much the worst of Poets I
By so much you the best of Patrones be.

To Juvençius.

Juvencius thy fair sweet Eyes,
If to my fill that I may kisse,
Three hundred thousand times I'de kisse,
Nor future age should cloy this Blisse;
No not if thicker than ripe ears,
The harvest of our kisses bears.

Catul.

With a fair boy a Cryer we behold.
What should we think? but he would not be sold.

[Portii Licinii.] Englished.

If you are Phœbus Sister Delia pray
This my request unto the Sun convay:
O Delphick God, I built thy marble Fane,
And sung thy praises with a gentle Cane,
Now if thou art divine Apollo, tell,
Where he whose purse is empty may go fill.

[Senecæ ex Cleanthe.] Englished.

Parent and Prince of Heav'n O lead I pray,
Where ere you please, I follow and obey;
Active I go, sighing if you gainsay,
And suffer bad what to the good was law,
Fates lead the willing, but unwilling draw.

[Quinti Catuli.] Englished.

As once I bad good morning to the day,
O' th' sudden Roscius breaks in a bright Ray:
Gods with your favour, I've presum'd to see,
A mortal fairer then a Deitie.
With looks and hands a Satyre courts the boy,
Who draws back his unwilling Cheek as coy.
Although of Marble hewn, whom move not they?
The Boy Ey'n seems to weep the Satyre pray.

Of a Drunkard.

Phœbus a sleep forbad me Wine to take,
I yield; and now am only drunk awake.

The Asse eating the Æneids.

A wretched Asse the Æneids did destroy,
A Horse or Asse is still the fate of Troy.

[Auso. lib. Epig.] Englished.

On the Scicilian strand a Hare well wrought
Before the Hounds was by a Dog-fish caught;
Quoth she; all rape of Sea and Earth's on me
Perhaps of Heav'n, if there a Dog-star be.

[Auso. lib. Epig.] Englished.

The Cynicks narrow houshold stuffe of Crutch,
A stool and dish, was lumber thought too much;
For whilst a Hind drinks out on's palms, o'th'strand
He flings his dish, cries, I've one in my hand.

[Auso. lib.I. Epig.] Englished.

A treasure found one entring at death's gate,
Triumphing, leaves that cord was meant his fate,
But he the gold missing which he did hide,
The Halter which he found, he knit, so dy'd.

To the same Ayre in English, thus

[Object adorable of charms]

Object adorable of charms
My sighs and tears may testifie my harms
But my respect forbids me to reveal;
Ah what a pain 'tis to conceal,
And how I suffer worse then Hell,
To love and not to dare to tell.

Theophile being deny'd his addresses to King James, turned the Affront, to his own glory, in this Epigram.

Lineally Translated out of the FRENCH.

If James the King of wit
To see me thought not fit,
Sure this the cause hath been,
That ravish'd with my merit,
He thought I was all spirit,
And so not to be seen.

In English.

[Vain Painter why dost strive my face to draw]

Vain Painter why dost strive my face to draw,
With busy hands a Goddesse eyes nere saw:
Daughter of Air and Wind; I do rejoyce
In empty shouts (without a mind) a Voice.
Within your ears shrill echo I rebound,
And if you'l paint me like, then paint a sound.

In English.

[Her jealous Husband an Adultresse gave]

Her jealous Husband an Adultresse gave
Cold poysons, which to weak she thought for's grave
A fatal dose of Quicksilver, then she
Mingles to hast his double destinie;
Now whilst within themselves they are at strife,
The deadly potion yields to that of Life,
And straight from th'hollow stomack both retreat,
To th'slipp'ry pipes known to digested meat.
Strange care o' th' Gods! the Murth'resse doth avail
So when fates please ev'n double poysons heal.

In English.

[Because with bought books, Sir, your study's fraught]

Because with bought books, Sir, your study's fraught
A learned Grammarian you would fain be thought,
Nay then buy Lutes and strings, so you may play
The Merchant now, the Fidler the next day.

[Avieni v.c. ad amicos.] Englished.

Ask'd in the Country, what I did, I said
I view my men and meads, first having pray'd;
Then each of mine hath his just task outlay'd.
I read, Apollo court, I rouse my Muse
Then I anoynt me, and stript willing loose
My self on a soft plat, from us'ry blest
I dine, drink, sing, play, bath, I sup, I rest.

[Ad Fabullum. Catul. lib.I. Ep.13.] Englished.

Fabullus I will treat you handsomely
Shortly, if the kind gods will favour thee.
If thou dost bring with thee a del'cate messe,
An Olio or so, a pretty Lass,
Brisk wine, sharp tales, all sorts of Drollery,
These if thou bringst (I say) along with thee
You shall feed highly friend, for know the ebbs
Of my lank purse are full of Spiders webs,
But then again you shall recieve clear love
Or what more grateful or more sweet may prove,
For with an ointment I will favour thee,
My Venus's and Cupids gave to me,
Of which once smelt, the gods thou wilt implore
Fabullus that they'd make thee nose all ore.

[Mart. lib.I. Epi.14.] Englished.

When brave chast Arria to her Pœtus gave
The Sword from her own breast did bleeding wave,
If there be faith, this wound smarts not said she,
But what you'l make, ah that will murder me.

[Mart. Epi.43. lib.I.] In English.

When Portia her dear Lord's sad fate did hear,
And noble grief sought arms were hid from her,
Know you not yet no hinderance of death is,
Cato I thought enough had taught you this,
So said, her thirsty lips drink flaming coales,
Go now deny me steel officious fools.

[Mart. Ep.15. lib.6.] Englished.

Whilst in an Amber-shade the Ant doth feast
A gummy drop ensnares the small wild beast,
A full reward of all her toyls hath she,
'Tis to be thought she would her self so die.

[Mar. lib.4. Ep.33.] In English.

Both lurks and shines hid in an Amber-tear
The Bee in her own Nectar prisoner;
So she who in her life time was contemn'd
Ev'n in her very funerals is gemm'd.

[Mart. lib.8. Ep.19.] In English

Cinna seems poor in show,
And he is so.

In an English Distick.

A Fool much bit by fleas put out the light,
You shall not see me now (quoth he) good night.

To Rufus.

That no fair woman will, wonder not why
Clap (Rufus) under thine her tender thigh;
Not a silk gown shall once melt one of them,
Nor the delights of a transparent gemme
A scurvy story kills thee, which doth tell
That in thine armpits a fierce goat doth dwell.
Him they all fear-full of an ugly stinch,
Nor's 't fit he should lye with a handsome wench;
Wherefore this Noses cursed plague first crush,
Or cease to wonder why they fly you thus.

Female Inconstancy.

My Mistresse sayes she'll marry none but me,
No not if Jove himself a Suitor be:
She sayes so; but what women say to kind
Lovers, we write in rapid streams and wind.

[Ad Lesbiam, Cat. Ep.73.] Englished.

That me alone you lov'd, you once did say,
Nor should I to the King of gods give way,
Then I lov'd thee not as a common dear,
But as a Father doth his children chear;
Now thee I know, more bitterly I smart,
Yet thou to me more light and cheaper art.
What pow'r is this? that such a wrong should press
Me to love more, yet wish thee well much lesse.
I hate and love, wouldst thou the reason know?
I know not, but I burn and feel it so.

[In Lesbiam Cat. Ep.76.] Englished.

By thy fault is my mind brought to that pass,
That it it's Office quite forgotten has;
For be'est thou best, I cannot wish thee well,
And be'est thou worst, yet must I love thee still.

To Quintius.

Quintius if you'll endear Catullus eyes,
Or what he dearer then his eyes doth prize,
Ravish not what is dearer then his eyes,
Or what he dearer then his eyes doth prize.

[De Quintia & Lesbia. Ep.87.] Englished.

Quintia is handsome, fair, tall, straight, all these
Very particulars I grant with ease:
But she all ore's not handsome; here's her fault
In all that bulk, there's not one corne of salt,
Whilst Lesbia fair and handsome too all ore
All graces and all wit from all hath bore.

[De Suo in Lesbiam amore Ep.88.] Englished.

No one can boast her self so much belov'd,
Truely as Lesbia my affections prov'd;
No faith was ere with such a firm knot bound
As in my love on my part I have found.

[Ad Sylonam Ep.104.] Englished.

Sylo pray pay me my ten Sest erees,
Then rant and roar as much as you shall please,
Or if that mony takes, pray give ore;
To be a pimp, or else to rant and roar.